MERS Update: All Workers Test Negative

Florida, Indiana Hospital Workers All Cleared for Return to Work

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

May 27, 2014 -- All hospital workers in Florida and Indiana who were in contact with the patients diagnosed with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) have been cleared to return to work, hospital officials say.

In Florida, follow-up testing on all 23 health care workers exposed to the MERS patient showed they didn't catch the virus, according to Dain Weister, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Health. They were able to return to work May 24.

In Indiana, all 50 employees of Community Hospital in Munster who had direct contact with the patient diagnosed there did not catch MERS either, a second test confirmed, according to the hospital.

MERS first surfaced in Saudi Arabia in 2012. As of May 23, 635 confirmed cases have been reported, according to the World Health Organization, with 193 deaths. The death rate of MERS is about 30%.

The virus first appeared in the U.S. May 2, when a health care worker traveled from Saudi Arabia to Indiana, then went to the emergency room in Munster with symptoms. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath are typical MERS symptoms.

A second health care worker who traveled from Saudi Arabia to Orlando fell ill upon his arrival in Florida, with health care officials confirming that case May 11.

Both patients have been discharged from the hospital.

A third man from Illinois, who had met with the Indiana MERS patient twice before the patient was hospitalized, tested positive but showed no sign of the illness. Blood tests showed the Illinois man had been exposed to the MERS virus because he developed antibodies to fight it, officials said. But he did not seek or need medical care.

The MERS virus is also known as MERS-CoV, or coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. They cause a range of illnesses in people and animals. The source of MERS is not known, according to the CDC, although the virus has been found in camels and a bat. There is no vaccine.

The CDC does not recommend any change in travel plans. It advises travelers to take precautions: Wash hands with soap and water often, and avoid sick people.

source : MERS Update: All Workers Test Negative

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Men's Top 7 Abdominal Training Mistakes

By Michael Esco, PhD
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

Even when you exercise extra hard for “six-pack” abs, you might not get the results you want. That’s because it’s hard to lose abdominal fat, especially if you’re not exercising correctly.

Make sure you’re following these 7 training to-dos.

1. Go Beyond Crunches and Sit-Ups

There's a good reason these exercises are a go-to for abdominal training -- they work!

But your muscles adapt quickly to certain exercises. If this happens, they may stop responding altogether.

Changing your workout every 4-6 weeks will ensure the results keep coming.

It’s also important to do a variety of movements to fully target all of the ab muscles, not just the “six-pack” -- aka the rectus abdominis. Other muscles include the external and internal obliques, which are located on the side of the trunk. Try side bridges, planks, hip-ups, bicycles, and Pilates for variety. You can also incorporate stability devices, and do crunches on a Swiss ball for an advanced move.

2. Give Your Abs a Break

When it comes to training your abs, the more you do does not mean the more results you’ll get. As a matter of fact, doing too much can actually increase the risk of injury to the lower back.

If you’re working your midsection on a daily basis, you’re probably overdoing it. Like all other muscles in your body, your abs need rest to fully recover and repair from a strenuous workout. A good abdominal workout should only be performed on 2 to 3 nonconsecutive days per week.

3. Include Cardio

The biggest mistake men make when attempting to lose belly fat? Avoiding cardiovascular exercise. No matter how hard you try, you can’t spot-reduce. You must burn stored calories.

If a layer of fat is covering your abs, there isn’t any ab-specific workout that will show results without help from cardio training.

Strive for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. But an even better way to torch belly fat is with vigorous exercise like jogging or spin class. And it’s a great time-saver too, giving you the same benefits in just 25 minutes 3 days a week.

To trim the layer of fat over your abs even faster, throw in high-intensity intervals.

source : Men's Top 7 Abdominal Training Mistakes

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3 Ways to Cook Butternut Squash

By Erin O'Donnell
WebMD Magazine - Feature

Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Butternut squash is low in calories (just 41 in a half-cup serving) and a good source of filling fiber. It's also chock full of yellow- and orange-hued antioxidants known as carotenoids.

These nutrient powerhouses may help protect against heart disease and cancer, says American Institute for Cancer Research dietitian Alice Bender.

Carotenoids include beta-carotene, which the body changes to vitamin A, a nutrient that supports the immune system. Other carotenoids in butternut squash are lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect the eyes against cataracts and macular degeneration.

One cup of butternut squash has more than four times the recommended daily value of vitamin A.

Butternut squash is the most widely grown winter squash. Its sweet flavor appeals to kids and works well in pastas, soups, and stews.

Bender suspects that some cooks are intimidated by the strange shape and hard skin. "It looks daunting, but it's very easy to prepare," she says. "You just need a good knife."

Cut the squash in half, and scrape out the seeds. Then bake it, cut side down, until soft. Scoop out the flesh, or remove the rind with a vegetable peeler, and cut the squash flesh into cubes.

Try butternut squash in these three recipes:

Butternut Squash, Apple, and Currant Bake

This side dish pairs well with pork or roast chicken, but it might as well be dessert, given the delectable way the squash and apples caramelize while roasting. It features five-spice powder, a Chinese cooking staple found in large grocery stores and ethnic markets.

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

            2 large butternut squashes (totaling 3 or 4 pounds)

            2 Tbsp canola oil

            1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder or pumpkin pie spice

            5 apples, Granny Smith or McIntosh

            1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

            1/3 cup maple syrup

            1/3 cup raisins or currants

            1/3 cup pecans (optional)

            1/4 tsp sea salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Peel, seed, and cut squash into cubes; place in a large bowl.
3. Toss squash with canola oil and spice. Spread on a rimmed cookie sheet or sheet pan, and bake for 20 minutes.
4. Core apples, remove peels if desired, and cut into cubes. Place apple pieces in a large bowl.
5. In a small bowl, combine vinegar and maple syrup; pour over apples.
6. Combine apples with squash, and toss gently. Return squash with apples to baking sheet, and bake 5-10 minutes until cooked through and tender.
7. Remove apples and squash from oven, and place in a serving dish. Add raisins, pecans, salt, and pepper, and serve.

Per serving (does not include pecans): 221 calories, 2 g protein, 46 g carbohydrate, 5 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 4 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 104 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 20%

source : 3 Ways to Cook Butternut Squash

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